Title: A closer look at national/local election results

" Last night's big races with professor William Mayer -- political science professor at northeastern to have your bill thank you for inviting me."

" All right big picture here on on a regional level and what I love about. Any big surprises in New England -- one gay marriage shut down Maine I also wanted it is."

" Pretty much went off according to to what we is certainly Menino is. Victory should not surprise anyone who would follow -- what looked at the Paulson and and in particular his popularity. Underlined with the voters and the the main result actually didn't surprise me either. Is as as you say you. Gay marriages has lost 31 times now when it's been on the ballot. At and even more remarkable result in some ways because. As was true in Maine and and has typically been true the the supporters of gay marriage typically outspend. It's its opponents might -- dramatic margins as well and yet done it continually. Is it is unpopular with the voters."

" Do you spent -- suspect the issue is over that in Maine I mean is this it."

" Well not -- I don't think it is at all. Wednesday. You may know that that a number of years ago on the legislature enacted -- eighty."

" Gay rights bill that the basically job protections and some other things like that."

" And it was defeated at the polls and on the legislature kept re enacting it until finally. It was literally. Narrowly approved and so it won't surprise me at all if."

" The supporters of gay marriage come back to the legislature and say let's reenacted."

" See if we do we can make -- pass this time nationally the big headlines this morning big night for Republicans talk about the gubernatorial races in Virginia -- it was in general good night I think it it it it would have been a great night had they managed pullout that does seat."

" Up in the -- up upstate New York. Given that that they didn't win that one still I think that that the dominant tone of of most of the interpretation most of the analyses I've been hearing this morning. Is that it was a good night for Republicans and a lot of this is really is a battle of perceptions if it. If it's perceived as a good night for Republicans it will be a good night for Republicans."

" It probably will give a lot of blue dog Democrats second thoughts when they think about voting for the health care. -- legislation that's now being considered by congress."

" There's also all law a lot of congressional elections all over the country where. Good Republican candidates have been sitting on the fence saying do I get into the race is this a good Republican year. And the fact that they were able to win in both New Jersey and Virginia I think may move some of these people off the fence."

" And get them to want to get into. The elections for 2010."

" In -- New Jersey in the Virginia races may have been a look a lot about local politics and not so much about the president despite the fact that the president to campaign notably. In New Jersey still as you say it's about perceptions so. What is is this a harbinger of what may be coming in the off here for President Obama."

" I mean I think it everything is shaping up for it not to be a great year for Democrats whether it is a slightly bad -- very bad year I think we don't know yet but. Yeah and a minimum one can say that that the state of the economy will be a big factor this next time around."

" And in 2010. And the economy isn't in great shape now on I'm thinking particularly of the unemployment rate."

" And by most forecast is not gonna look a whole lot better. Come November 2010. I think. These sorts of background conditions they do play a role to date do they affect a 100% of the voters know. But if they -- say five or 10% that's enough to explain why. Christie finally beat out Corzine or why. The Republicans want in Virginia not narrow lead but but really -- quite substantial margins."

" As a nightmare we appreciate you sharing your -- stick around and chat with more on the topic in the next hour be at least one."

" Also this reminder you can find all the results from all around the new England and the rest of the country on our website and you know that website NE cnn.com and I have to do is click on politics right now."